The sound of a panicked beast echoed as it sprinted desperately, paying no attention to the noise it made in its frantic attempt to escape whatever was chasing it.

The dog-like creature scanning the sky behind it. Just as it looked, a shadowy figure descended rapidly from above.

The beast desperately leaped to the side, barely avoided a fatal strike, suffering only a shallow slash across its abdomen. It let out a whimper but continued running frantically.

“Tsk, too shallow. Raisen! It's heading east—intercept it!"

Ryohei clicked his tongue in frustration, barely missed his attack. Without hesitation, he resumed the chase and threw Hikage who was still in her sickle form—toward the beast in a precise arc. Like a boomerang, it spun through the air. Then Ryohei swiftly picked up a stone as he ran and threw it with all his strength.

His throw missed, landing beside the creature with a loud boom. But that sudden impact made the beast jump in shock, that single moment was enough to break its running posture and reduce its momentum.

Hikage transformed back into its weasel form, and performed a pincer attack on their prey along with Raisen who had been waiting upfront. The ambush was successful, the beast opened its mouth which was split into four parts and let out a hollow scream.

Followed up by several swift stabs to the beast’s chest was enough to send it collapsing to the ground, blood pooling beneath it as life drained from its body.

Ryohei approached cautiously, verifying its death before letting out a relieved sigh.

Raisen and Hikage dragged the carcass over to him, but Ryohei shook his head.

“We've been over this. This is your meal. I won’t be eating it.”

Ryohei rubs their heads, then they back down and feast on their prey.

In the past, Ryohei would avert his gaze, as he cannot bear to witness the grotesque look when they eat... But now, he has grown accustomed to it.

In a sense, the Yokai world worked similarly to the Law of the Jungle.

It has been several days since Nurarihyon visited his house. Ever since Raisen and Hikage returned the following day, Ryohei had been venturing out each night to hunt alongside them—not just to provide their meals, but also to regulate the excess spiritual energy coursing through his body.

This has become his new daily routine, and tonight Is the fourth day of his hunt. In the morning, he attended school as usual and during the night he went out to hunt.

Yet, despite hunting several times, he still refuses to consume any of the prey… It wasn’t just because he wasn’t accustomed to eating it—he was afraid that continuous consumption of it could turn him more ‘Inhumane’ than his current self.

*Kuuu

A soft, high-pitched squeak from Raisen caught his attention.

“Finished eating? Shall we return?” Ryohei said.

On the way home, he moved swiftly through the trees, leaping in a zigzag pattern with ease.

After the constant training, he can now easily perform air steps without much effort.

One of the techniques that had once troubled him—riding the wind—had also improved. He could now sustain it for longer periods, though he still struggled to control his trajectory.

After experimenting, through trial and error, while also training his balance for a few days, He record any findings on his ability.

As it sounds, his ability to ride the wind is quite simple. All he needs is a stream of wind current blowing in one direction, his speed will depend on how strong that wind current is.

In the urban and city area, the wind current was significantly weaker due to all the tall buildings and numerous structures disrupting the flow and breaking the wind apart. As a result, running on foot in Yokai form was far more efficient and faster than attempting to ride the wind.

In mountainous regions, however, the conditions were entirely different. With no obstructions, the wind moved freely, as its speed was immense.

It felt akin to skiing down an extremely steep mountain at high velocity while requiring you to maintain a precise balance—similar to performing a skateboard slide.

But the wind stream wasn’t always predictable. Sometimes it curved like a snake, other times it twisted violently, coiling upon itself. At times it zigzagged, and in other instances, it spiraled, flipping him upside down mid-flight.

More often than not, it threw Ryohei off course, sending him crashing into trees, slamming into boulders, or hitting the ground with force. It was chaotic and relentless, but the harsh training inadvertently sped up his energy consumption, aided by the numerous wounds he sustained.

By the third day of practice, Ryohei began to perceive something new—a faint, flowing pattern within the wind currents.

As he continued to enhance his vision with spiritual energy, he discovered a whole new world—a world where the unseen became visible. He could now detect traces of spiritual energy in the air and within every living being.

With this ability, he could track the wind currents he rode, via monitoring its spiritual energy flow. Making it significantly easier to master his technique.

And after each training session, he made it a habit to carry a mirror with him.

By using that mirror, he saw a dark blue energy swirling inside his body. It had already filled more than half of his spiritual energy reserves—and that energy is the residual power from Daitengu's blood.

Each day, he checked his progress, watching as the borrowed energy gradually depleted. Now, only a fraction—less than one-tenth of the original amount—remained.

Ryohei studied his palm, clenching and unclenching his fist, feeling the subtle contractions of his muscles

"Back then, during Hyakki Yagyo, I exhausted all of this energy in a single night," he murmured. "And yet… this is the fourth day, and I still haven’t exhausted it."

He took a deep breath and exhaled it, "It’s fine… I’m almost there. My strength isn’t as overwhelming as it was that night. I’m gradually getting weaker."

That’s a good thing right? It should have… after all, living normal is what he had always wanted.

Yet… somewhere deep in his heart, he felt irritated.

He wanted to grow stronger,

He longed for that sensation—the same excitement where his blood boils as the fight rages on. When his heart beats uncontrollably, a bloody tinted vision just like that night, a sense of fear and anger where he needs to fight in order to survive.

He craved that feeling again… and during the hunts past these days, he got to experience it once more. Not as intense as back then, probably it was because of him hunting weaker opponents.

But despite wanting to experience that feeling again,it was nothing more than a foolish fantasy.

If he had to choose between power and his family’s safety, he would always prioritize the latter.

He couldn’t afford to be greedy.

After all, a man who chases two rabbits catches neither.

Ryohei shakes his head, forgetting that thought as he continues heading back home with his weasels.

----------------------------------------

“Usui Ryohei!” The teacher called my name, marking anyone who's’ absent.

“Here sir.” I raised my hand as I responded.

The final period of the day proceeded uneventfully, the teacher continuing on his roll call.

Since then, the school just continued as usual, nothing surprising or new. Everything is going smoothly so far. I was also able to catch up with my study.

If there’s one thing that’s different, it was probably my grade.

Apparently, being half-yokai didn’t just enhance his physical abilities—it sharpened his mind as well. I can feel the difference, back then I was barely able to understand some lessons. But now, let alone understanding it. I completely memorized all the things on the whiteboard.

It was almost as if I had photographic memories…

Since then, my grades skyrocketed, from being slightly below average in class into being one of the top ten. And don’t even try going all out.

That sudden improvement made the teachers get suspicious. They accused me of cheating during the Pop Quiz, forcing me to retake it under strict supervision.

But the results remained unchanged. They had no choice but to believe me now.

The only unexpected occurrence during the past few days was—

"Kanzaki Hikari!" The teacher called her name, waiting for a response.

“I said, Kanzaki Hikari!” He called her name once more, but still no answer.

“Absent sir” a student finally replied.

“Again?” The teacher sounded genuinely surprised.

And who wouldn’t be? Hikari was a model student—rarely late, never absent without reason.

Yet this marked the third consecutive day she had been missing from class.

‘I wonder what happened to her… Did she catch a cold? She had stood in the rain with me the other day…’

Unconsciously a frown appeared on my face. I can’t help but worry…

She has been helping me a lot since then. It’s natural for me to do the same to her.

"Ah, right! Don’t forget—tomorrow is the field trip!" the teacher reminded the class. "Be sure to arrive early! Roll call starts at 7:30 sharp. If you’re late, you’ll be left behind. Bring all necessary items, but no comic books or game consoles!"

A collective "Yes, sir!" filled the room.

The day continued as usual until the final bell rang.

As the bell of the end of school rang, everyone packed their belongings and went home, except me. I went the opposite way, the teachers office. Looking for my homeroom teacher.

“Pardon my intrusion…”

My homeroom teacher glanced at me from afar, “Ryohei? Do you need something?”

“Excuse me, Ms. I wanted to ask about Hikari. Since the field trip is tomorrow, I’m worried she might miss it. She’s been absent for the past four days… Do you know what happened to her? Is she sick?"

"Unfortunately, I don’t know either," the teacher admitted. "She hasn’t contacted the school."

"I see…" Ryohei hesitated before making up his mind. "I’d like to visit her. May I have her address?"

The teacher adjusted her glasses and flipped through the student records. After locating Hikari’s information, she jotted down the address on a slip of paper and handed it to him.

"Here you go."

Ryohei accepted it with a slight bow. "Thank you."

As I made my way toward the school gate, Raisen and Hikage were already there, waiting for me. When they saw me waving my hands at them, they immediately ran straight to me, climbing my trousers and looking for a comfy space to enjoy during the ride back home.

"We’re not going home just yet," Ryohei informed them. "I’m visiting Hikari’s house first."

At the mention of her name, Hikage’s expression soured, but Ryohei ignored it and kept moving.

----------------------------------------

The sun hung low over downtown, casting long shadows over the narrow streets. Ryohei weaved through the afternoon bustle..

As they passed by Zenkoji Temple, its towering gates stood solemn against the sky. The temple’s spiritual presence was palpable, the air thick with the weight of centuries-old prayers. The weasels twitched their noses but said nothing as they continued forward.

Hikari’s house stood at the edge of a quiet street—a classic Machiya-style home, with wooden lattices, sliding doors, and a tiled roof that curved elegantly. Unlike the clustered buildings downtown, her home had a spacious yard, well-kept and tidy, yet strangely... still.

Ryohei double-checked the address on the slip of paper his homeroom teacher had given him. ‘This was the correct place,’ he thought. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.

But before he could get close, Raisen and Hikage suddenly jumped back, as their fur bristled, and their tails puffed up.

A sharp hiss escaped their throats.

Ryohei blinked in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

They didn’t answer—just kept hissing at the house, bodies low, ears pinned back like cornered animals. It wasn’t fear. It was revulsion. Something about the house repelled them, made them refuse to go near.

Annoyed, Ryohei reached down to pick them up. “Come on, you two, quit messing arou—”

They squirmed violently out of his grasp, landing on all fours before darting away from the gate. No matter how much he coaxed them, they wouldn't step inside.

A shiver crept down Ryohei’s spine. He’d never seen them react like this.

Something wasn’t right.

Still, he clenched his jaw and stepped past the gate alone. The moment his foot landed on the yard’s stone pathway, a wave of discomfort crashed over him—like stepping into freezing water. His breath hitched as goosebumps crawled up his arms.

His instincts screamed at him.

Something was here.

Narrowing his eyes, he channeled spiritual energy into his vision. His sight sharpened, the world around him shifting. With his enhanced vision he saw her house, his eyes widened in surprise.

Hikari’s house was drenched in spiritual energy, swirling like mist, clinging to the walls and covering the whole house. It wasn’t malevolent, but it was dense, and unnatural.

He thought a bad feeling settled in his gut. Worried that something is happening to her, without wasting another second, he strode up to the entrance and knocked the door firmly.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

----------------------------------------

In the quiet warmth of the house, Hikari sat cross-legged on the tatami mat with her eyes closed, guiding Yukari through sensing spiritual energy.

“Feel the flow,” she instructed, her voice steady. “Don't just rely on sight—let it touch your skin, let it settle in your mind. Like a scent you recognize but cannot see.”

Yukari furrowed her brows in concentration. The air inside the house was thick with spiritual energy, contained within the careful barrier Hikari had woven. Nothing should have been able to breach it unnoticed.

Then—a twitch.

Hikari’s eyes snapped open.

A presence. Something had slipped past the barrier. Something… foreign.

She tensed. A yokai? No. The energy wasn’t quite right—it felt faint, Yokai energy isn't this small. It must be something else

Her hand slipped into her pocket, fingers wrapping around a stack of talisman papers.

“Wait here,” she said sharply to Yukari, already rising to her feet.

She moved quickly but carefully, padding down the wooden hallway toward the front door. Each step was soundless. Hikari’s fingers gripped the talisman papers tightly as she stared at the closed door.

Her heartbeat was steady, her senses sharpened. She had felt something—an eerie, unfamiliar energy breaching the barrier she had carefully placed around her home. Yet now, as she stood still, everything was quiet. The malevolent presence had vanished, as if it had never existed. But that was impossible.

Then—a knock came from the door.

Hikari froze, her breath caught in her throat.

A voice resounded, slightly muffled through the door. The sound was firm yet unhurried. A very familiar voice that she knew very well.

"Hikari? Are you home?"

Her eyes widened as soon as she heard that voice. That was Ryohei’s voice, without a doubt.

Her breath hitched. Even though it’s Ryohei’s voice, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was him. Hikari racked her brains as countless thoughts surfaced on her mind.

She hesitated, as her heart was pounding. ‘Ryohei!? Why is he here? What about that foreign spiritual energy? Was it really Ryohei? Or was it just a Yokai that mimicked Ryohei’s voice? Was it a Yokai trap to lure me outside?’

She was skeptical, she came up with every single possibility of what could happen. Others may think she’s overreacting, but she was tasked with an important task, which is to guard and tutor the contractor of Genbu. As she will be one of the future prospects of Onmyouji.

It’s not strange for the Yokai faction to send their forces and slain her before she was able to grow up. And that is the reason why Hikari was on edge.

The longer she held on, the more insane she became. “…Ryohei?” she called back, still wary and ready to attack.

But despite being aware that it might be a yokai trap, there’s also a possibility of Ryohei visiting her, as she was away from school for four days straight.

That is why she can’t just ignore the possibility of Ryohei visiting her while there's also a yokai that is lingering in her yard, he could be in danger.

She couldn't afford to hesitate.

With one hand ready to strike, she slid open the door just a fraction, her other hand holding the talismans near her chest.

The moment she laid eyes on him, her breath caught.

It was him.

Ryohei stood there, shifting his weight slightly, looking as ordinary as ever. No eerie glow in his eyes, no distorted features, nothing about him seemed off. But the vile energy she had sensed earlier—where had it gone?

She stepped outside slightly, scanning the yard. The air was still, the faint rustling of trees the only sound. No residual traces of the spiritual energy she had sensed remained. Her brows furrowed.

Was it truly just a coincidence? No, that can’t be… She was sure that she felt something had passed through her barrier.

She's not so naive as to wave it off as just a hunch or a mistake. Her persistent personality didn’t allow her to move on until she completely found the source of that foreign energy.

A thought resurfaced in her mind.

‘That energy… Did it come from him?’

Hikari throws a suspicious glance at Ryohei.

‘That can't be... he's a human, and I have long confirmed it... should I check it once more?’

She took a paper talismans and was ready to strike, but hesitated... What if it's not true? She will just end up hurting him.

Then, Ryohei spoke.

"Are you okay? You haven’t come to school in four days. I thought something happened to you, so I came to visit."

Hikari blinked. His voice was normal—genuine. A part of her doubt wavered, but she forced herself to stay alert.

She exhaled softly. "I’m fine. I just had a sudden family matter that needed my attention. Sorry, I was so busy that I forgot to inform the school."

Then her gaze shifted, falling upon the object in his hand. Her breath hitched slightly.

“…Usui, you brought an umbrella?”

Ryohei stiffened for a fraction of a second, a reaction so subtle that most wouldn’t have noticed.

"Ah… yes. This is… just in case it rains."

The excuse was reasonable enough—except for one problem.

It was a Wagasa.

Hikari’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the umbrella. Wagasa is a traditional Japanese Umbrella that is not the type of umbrella someone would casually carry around for rain.

As it was made of washi paper and bamboo, it wasn’t exactly the most practical choice for protection against downpours.

Such umbrellas were more commonly seen at festivals or used for ceremonial purposes. Or even during hot summer, to shield against the sun.

But using it for rain? That's a highly dubious statement.

"Can I check it out?" she asked, extending her hand while still feeling suspicious of it.

Ryohei tensed. That umbrella is the spiritual treasure he obtained from Nurarihyon, and the only reason he brought it to school was so that he can transform without attracting the attention of passersby. Since it made the users that used the umbrella harder to recognize.

The moment stretched, and the conversation didn’t move forward. A strange distance settled between them, as if they were strangers rather than classmates.

After a pause, he finally relented. "Uh… sure, here you go."

The moment her fingers touched the umbrella, she felt it—an undeniable trace of spiritual energy.

Her heart pounded.

This is… a Tsukumogami.

Her grip unconsciously tightened as she turned her gaze back to Ryohei.

"…Usui, how long have you used this umbrella?"

Ryohei’s face remained composed. His gaze darted to the talismans in her hand, then to the interior of her home, where similar charms were placed along the walls. His eyes widened as he realized something, but preserved his expression from shifting.

For a brief moment, the tension between them was razor-sharp, an unspoken battle of wits.

Then, Ryohei smiled, as his vision became gentle. As if remembering something from old times.

"Since a long time ago. This is my great-grandmother’s umbrella. It’s very precious to me."

He bullshit his way through, like a master of mind.

‘A lie? Or was it the truth?’ Hikari thought, still not convinced. Hikari inspected the umbrella some more.

Her fingers traced the surface of the umbrella. The material was covered in oil and lacquer—unlike most Wagasa, this one was usable even in the rain. And the Tsukumogami… was dormant. There was no spirit inside, meaning it was simply an enchanted object, not a full-fledged yokai.

The only ability she could detect was—

Ah.

A realization dawned upon her.

It only made the users harder to recognize.

A ridiculous thought crossed her mind.

‘Was this the reason why Ryohei was so unpopular at school?’

She glanced at him again, her suspicion shifting into something closer to concern. If this umbrella subtly distorted his presence, making him harder to notice, then it wasn’t entirely far-fetched to assume that it affected his social life as well. The reason he barely made any friends was probably because of this too.

And about the alert I got about some energy that passed my barrier, perhaps this is the source of it…

Feeling that her suspicion was baseless, she lowered the umbrella slightly, and some tension disappeared from her shoulders. Too bad, she was planning to seal this Tsukumogami, as it impacts Ryohei’s social life, but if she did. He will be sad, since these are precious keepsakes of his great grandmother. And since it’s harmless, I suppose it's fine.

[Sadly, she just misunderstands Ryohei's unpopularity and assumes that it was the aftereffects of using that umbrella.]

As She returned the umbrella, her serious expression softened, as she returned to her usual cheerful self, deliberately hiding the paper charms she prepared behind her.

But Ryohei had already noticed it.

“I’m sorry! The umbrella looked very nice. I'm just interested in these kinds of things. Well, what are you waiting for? come in.”

Ryohei didn’t reject the invitation and went inside, along the hall he glanced at different rooms and wall decorations she had. Until they were finally in the living room.

“Wait here okay, I’ll make some tea.”

Ryohei nodded and Hikari’s figure disappeared, heading to the kitchen.

The moment she was out of sight, he exhaled sharply.

‘That was close…’

Ryohei was still in disbelief despite witnessing the facts. The shrine-like decoration on the wall, some paper charms at the corner of some rooms, or the row of prayer books and incense on one of the shelves.

His suspicion was spot on.

She’s an Onmyouji… or has a connection to it.

His expression turned sour as a slight pain arched his heart, he was scared. What if she found out he’s a halfling now? Just the thought of it scares him.

And ever since he stepped into her house, he can’t help but fidget a lot. His body felt.. Off.

An indescribable itchy and stinging sensation crawled all over his skin–like an allergic reaction.

But, to openly scratch himself would appear somewhat rude or displeasing. So he resisted.

But the moment Hikari left, he couldn't hold back any longer.

He scratched his arm, neck and legs. As the itchy and stinging sensation was unbearable.

But despite scratching it, the feeling remains. Instead it became hot, as if his skin was burning.

Was it because of the talisman? Ryohei had no idea.

Before he could dwell on it further, Hikari returned with a tray.

"Sorry for the wait! Here’s your tea." She set it down, then smiled. "I’m surprised you managed to find my house."

Ryohei flinched at her sudden return and immediately stopped scratching.

“Ah, yeah. I asked our homeroom teacher for your address," he answered quickly. "So… what happened? Why have you been absent?"

Hikari paused for a moment before replying, "It’s… a family matter. My… relative is staying here for a few days. She recently got a scholarship to a school in Kyoto, and I was asked to tutor her."

Ryohei raised an eyebrow. "Tutoring her?"

"Yes, tutoring her," Hikari repeated.

"Wait—you’re tutoring a scholarship student? Wow… that's impressive. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“Are you calling me stupid?” Hikari's eyes narrowed, feeling insulted by that remark.

Ryohei let out a dry laugh, “Ahaha, of course not! Since she got a scholarship, I'm just assuming she's smart.”

“Not really, she got the scholarship not because of her grades or academic achievement. It's because of something else… Her grades are just so–so, that’s why I'm helping her.”

“Oh, is that so… Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that tomorrow is the day of the field trip, and the teachers have been wondering whether you’re coming or not.”

“...Tomorrow?”

Hikari stiffened.

In all the chaos, she had completely forgotten about the trip.

After a moment of hesitation, she glanced at Ryohei and nodded determinedly. "I’m coming. Definitely."

“You sure? You don’t have to force it.”

“No, I can go. I will make sure of it.”

Hikari, who missed her previous date with Ryohei, felt this was a chance for her to go on a field trip together to make up with it. Thus she was determined to convince her father of this.

"Alright then. Roll call starts at 7:30 AM, so don’t be late."

Hikari nodded. "Got it. Thanks for letting me know."

Silence settled between them.

For a few moments, they simply sat there, alone in the living room. Being awkward to each other.

Sometimes, Hikari even stole a glance at Ryohei, hoping to continue the conversation. But something was wrong.

He was fidgeting.

His breathing was uneven. His eyes wandered around the room as he struggled to stay conscious.

His body trembled slightly, he felt… very weak. As if something was gnawing at him from the inside.

“...Usui?”

He flinched, snapped by Hikari's voice that called out to him. “Wuh… What?”

His voice was slightly slurred as he felt lightweight.

Hikari, who looked at him and felt weak, became worried.

“Are you okay? asked Hikari with a caring tone.

He swallowed hard.

The itching had worsened. Now it felt like his entire body was on fire. His chest tightened, nausea creeping up his throat.

I need to get out of here.

"I think I’d better go home," he muttered.

“So soon? Why not stay a little longer?” Ask Hikari with sparkling eyes full of hope.

But unfortunately… Ryohei knew he couldn’t stay.

The longer he remained here, the worse he felt.

It was as if the entire house rejected his presence.

“Sorry, maybe next time,”

Hikari’s face fell slightly. "Ah… alright then."

As she escorted him to the door and bid farewell, “See you tomorrow.” Said Hikari, as she waved her hand slowly before closing the door.

Ryohei managed to get out of the front door, and out of Hikari’s residence. The moment he stepped outside, the nauseating sensation completely vanished.

He took a sharp turn, away from the usual street. The back of his body rested against a wall, slowly sliding down as all his strength left him.

He needs rest, and regulates his breath.

After resting a bit, he got up and started walking home, for the time being he didn’t want to remember any single thing that just happened.

The fact that she’s related to the Exorcist, he just wants to forget about it… or more like, he refuses to admit it.

“Hikage! Raisen! Where are you?”

Ryohei calls out to them but there’s no response, did they go back themselves? I hope so.

After calling several times more and still had no response, Ryohei decided to go back too.

He used his umbrella and started Transforming—

Yet, his body remains unchanged.

‘What…?”

Ryohei cuffs his hand and closes his eyes, focusing his energy to envelop his whole body. Transforming into his half–yokai form.

But nothing happened…

“Wh… what happened?!” He looked at the palm of his hands, focusing himself to turn his finger into a sickle.

But nothing happened, again.

Ryohei was puzzled on what’s going on, he should have been happy. Since he’s striving for ordinary life, this was supposed to be normal wasn't it?

But he was unease, as if saying there is a sense of not wanting to part with his power. After trying it over and over again, and continuing to fail several times.

The sky started to darken very quickly. Nagano is a city that is surrounded by mountains, which means the sun dips behind earlier than any other place. The golden evening light–or often called magic hour, doesn’t last long here. Because the mountains block the horizon and the sunset, thus making the sky shift from orange to dusk pretty quickly.

Ryohei who was frozen, still trying to transform and yet failed again and again. Until he eventually gave up and walked home before it got even more dark.

Ryohei sighed, back then he never complained about going back home, as he was used to walking a long distance to reach home. But after experiencing his fast travel method, he can’t help but feel discomfort during the whole walk.

He felt normal… like a regular Human.

As he continued going forward, he arrived at the outskirts of the town. A rural place with lots of abandoned houses. As he passed by a small wooden bridge and was heading into the forest.

A sudden burst of water exploded beside him, drenching his side as a powerful force surged from below. Ryohei barely had time to react before something latched onto his leg. A pair of scaly, greenish hands, slick with river slime, shot out from the depths—long, bony fingers tipped with jagged black claws. But what froze him in terror was the thin, webbed membrane stretched between them, like a frog, yet tougher, more unnatural.

Before he could even struggle, the grip tightened, nails digging through fabric and into his skin. Then, with a single yank, he was ripped off his balance and dragged into the river’s cold, suffocating darkness.